THE HORSE OF THE YEAR DEBATE

[walaa]

Im not saying you, personally, but alot of posts, people say, oh, RA has done things ruffian never did. BS. Ruffian won at a mile and a half, the Coaching Club, for fillies, was that distance back then, even her half sister Revidere won it Back then even filies had the 3rd leg of their triple crown at a mile 1/2, not now. So. all Im saying is, Ruffian has done something, despite what people who think they know it all post, (not you, I like you, your from FL ) that RA will NEVER do, win at a distance. Ruffians sister Revidere also placed 3rd in the Jockey club Gold Cup when it was a mile and a half against boys, something RA will also never do, thats all Im saying

[bdw0617]

1. just becuase a horse isn't brilliant at 12F does not mean it's not a great horse. 12F never has been and never will be the standard that every great horse in america is held to. it's great, i wish it were to be honest, but it's not.

As good as Rachael is....I am gonna have to side with Walaa with this one in the sense that ruffian could, as of now in her career, carry it farther than rachel could. the farther they go, the more likely ruffian would win.

then again on the other hand... If you made the CCOA 2 miles this year, rachael would still win it in an arm chair ride, does that make her a 16F horse? not really. she's just BETTER than her compititon.

in other words, while I think that ruffian probably had more stanima than Rachael, I owuld nto be using the CCOA as the standard barrer for a 12F race. both fillies were ovbiously too talanted for fillies to come close to regardless of distance.

[oliverstoned]

Im not saying you, personally, but alot of posts, people say, oh, RA has done things ruffian never did. BS. Ruffian won at a mile and a half, the Coaching Club, for fillies, was that distance back then, even her half sister Revidere won it Back then even filies had the 3rd leg of their triple crown at a mile 1/2, not now. So. all Im saying is, Ruffian has done something, despite what people who think they know it all post, (not you, I like you, your from FL ) that RA will NEVER do, win at a distance. Ruffians sister Revidere also placed 3rd in the Jockey club Gold Cup when it was a mile and a half against boys, something RA will also never do, thats all Im saying

True enough and it's a damn shame there aren't more 1 1/2 mile races. I think RA can win at that distance but not against an Easy Goer caliber horse.

P.S. I like you too

[walaa]

I totally agree, its unfortunate any kind of stamina doesnt seem to matter anymore, thats why I think RA shouldnt get HOY. I think if she gets it, we will never see her run even 1 3/16ths again, why would they bother? And others too, why bother rewarding something that noone seems to care about anymore? Tons of people in the industry complain about the breeding of t-breds today, we all have heard it, but then award a classic title to a filly that had at least 1, maybe more, opportunties to race at the classic distance, against her own sex, and opted out every time, and now she gets HOY?? I just dont believe it should happen, no matter how good she was in her other races, she shouldnt get the HOY title, adds too much fuel to the fire for not racing at real distances anymore, just my opinion. I think I mention in some long ago post, whats next if she gets the title, the Breeders Cup gets shortened to a mile 1/8th? The Derby next? In 10 yrs will the Derby be a mile, The preakness 7 furlongs, The Belmont a mile 1/8th?? And that will be the "Test Of Champions" I just fear if they start giving HOY awards to horses that have opportunities to run the distance and dont, people will care EVEN less, if thats possible, and start complaining more, which is entirely possible that distance doesnt matter and our races, like the Belmont are too long, and on...and on...JMHO

[walaa]

I totally agree, its unfortunate any kind of stamina doesnt seem to matter anymore, thats why I think RA shouldnt get HOY. I think if she gets it, we will never see her run even 1 3/16ths again, why would they bother? And others too, why bother rewarding something that noone seems to care about anymore? Tons of people in the industry complain about the breeding of t-breds today, we all have heard it, but then award a classic title to a filly that had at least 1, maybe more, opportunties to race at the classic distance, against her own sex, and opted out every time, and now she gets HOY?? I just dont believe it should happen, no matter how good she was in her other races, she shouldnt get the HOY title, adds too much fuel to the fire for not racing at real distances anymore, just my opinion. I think I mention in some long ago post, whats next if she gets the title, the Breeders Cup gets shortened to a mile 1/8th? The Derby next? In 10 yrs will the Derby be a mile, The preakness 7 furlongs, The Belmont a mile 1/8th?? And that will be the "Test Of Champions" I just fear if they start giving HOY awards to horses that have opportunities to run the distance and dont, people will care EVEN less, if thats possible, and start complaining more, which is entirely possible that distance doesnt matter and our races, like the Belmont are too long, and on...and on...JMHO

[dray33]

Zenyatta ran 1 1/4 once in her entire career. Should distance be the yardstick to the HOY?

[walaa]

sorry for all the double posts, I hate this mac! Dray, its only my opinion, but yes I think for the biggest award of the year, (age notwithstanding, as we all know 2 yr olds have won it) that when distance is available to you, who at least attempts it should certainly be a factor in deciding who gets that award. RA didnt have to win at that classic distance to get this award, but she could have tried it. With her other performances this year, I would hand her the award myself, if only they had even bothered to TRY, I dont think thats to much to ask a HOY contender, again, JMO

[dray33]

Then you penalize the younger horse, and give the lions share of opportunity to older horses. Not a horrid idea mind you, but personally I believe you are putting too much emphasis on distance for the award. Why not 1 5/8th distance is the factor? Why not 1 3/8? Zenyatta didn't ATTEMPT the distance until she was 5! Can you imagine RA's potential, winning one of thoroughbreds premiere racing events at 1 3/16ths in open company as a 3 year-old? It's odd (to me) that the divining rod is placed on that extra 1/16th, as the yardstick for HOY honors, is all.

[erhrdt3]

Ruffian loved the longer distances. I read in more than one book about her that not only did she win at that distance, the race escapes me, but her trainer had Vasquez, after winning a shorter race, keep her running to make the longer distance just to see what her time was. I'm sure those of you who read the books know what I'm talking about and can add more...

Additionally, do you think Secretariat's trainer, the late, great Lucien Lauren would have said what he did about Ruffian after seeing her run? I don't think he would have or had ever said that about any other horse.

And for the RA fans, let me sing to you: (in the way the Police song went!) LOL

A ooo ooo ooo, de da da, the one to beat RA, is Zenya-tta!

Merrrrrry Christmas! And a Blessed New Year to you all!

[karenkarenn]

- erhrdt3

[Jorge]

Congratulations to all the followers of Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra on such a great great win!